Reinforced cleaning member, and process cartridge and image forming apparatus using same

Abstract

A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier. The cleaning member includes a support plate having a planar face portion configured to be fixed to an object in a position adjacent to the image carrier, a plurality of reinforcement features configured to reinforce a strength of the support plate, at least one of the reinforcement features arranged on the planar face portion, and a blade connecting portion arranged on the planar face portion. The cleaning member further includes an elastic blade member connected to the blade connecting portion of the support plate such that the elastic blade extends toward the image carrier when the support plate is fixed to the object. The image cleaner may be positioned within an image forming apparatus or an image developing cartridge.

1. A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier, comprising: a support plate comprising:
 a planar face portion configured to be fixed to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier, 
 a fold portion forming a plane that extends at an angle to said planar face portion, 
 a reinforcement feature configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, said reinforcement feature being integral with and arranged on said planar face portion, and 
 a blade connecting portion coupled to said planar face portion; and 
 an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object. 
 
   
   
     2. The cleaning member of  claim 1 , wherein said object is an interior surface of an image forming apparatus. 
   
   
     3. The cleaning member of  claim 1 , wherein said object is an interior surface of an image processing cartridge. 
   
   
     4. The cleaning member of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fixing holes extending through said support plate and configured to receive a screw that fixes the support plate to said object. 
   
   
     5. The cleaning member of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of registration holes extending through said support plate and configured to align said support plate on said object. 
   
   
     6. The cleaning member of  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement feature comprises a convex shaped protrusion extending from said planar face of said support plate; and
 said fold portion comprises a fold portion forming a plane that extends substantially at a right angle to said planar face portion. 
 
   
   
     7. The cleaning member of  claim 6 , wherein said fold portion extends in a direction of said convex shaped protrusion such that the folded portion, convex shaped protrusion and said blade connecting portion all are formed on said planar face portion. 
   
   
     8. The cleaning member of  claim 6 , wherein said fold portion extends in a direction opposite of said convex shaped protrusion such that the folded portion is arranged on an opposite face to said planar face portion that said protrusion and blade connecting portion are formed on. 
   
   
     9. The cleaning member of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said fold portion is positioned on an edge of said planar face portion, 
 said elastic blade is connected to an opposite edge of the planar face portion, and 
 said convex shaped protrusion is positioned between said edge and opposite edge. 
 
   
   
     10. The cleaning member of  claim 9 , further comprising fixing holes positioned on opposite ends of said convex shaped protrusion. 
   
   
     11. The cleaning member of  claim 10 , wherein said fixing holes are substantially aligned with said convex shaped protrusion to form an array extending along said edge and opposite edge. 
   
   
     12. The cleaning member of  claim 10 , wherein said fixing holes are offset from said convex shaped protrusion in a direction extending from said edge to said opposite edge. 
   
   
     13. The cleaning member of  claim 10 , wherein said convex shaped protrusion is substantially centered between said fixing holes. 
   
   
     14. The cleaning member of  claim 10 , further comprising registration holes substantially aligned with said fixing holes to form an array extending along said edge and opposite edge. 
   
   
     15. The cleaning member of  claim 10  wherein said convex shaped protrusion comprises a continuous convex shaped protrusion that extends along said edge and opposite edge. 
   
   
     16. The cleaning member of  claim 10 , wherein said convex shaped protrusion comprises a plurality of discreet convex shaped protrusions aligned on said planar face portion. 
   
   
     17. The cleaning member of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one fixing hole positioned between said plurality of convex shaped protrusions. 
   
   
     18. A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier comprising:
 a support plate comprising:
 a planar face portion configured to be fixed to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier, 
 a plurality of reinforcement features configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, at least one of said reinforcement features being integral with and arranged on said planar face portion, and 
 a blade connecting portion arranged on said planar face portion; and 
 
 an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object, wherein at least one of said reinforcement features is positioned on said planar face to extend in an axial direction of said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object. 
 
   
   
     19. The cleaning member of  claim 6 , further comprising a groove portion arranged along at least one side of said convex shaped protrusion to relieve a mechanical stress on said support plate when said convex shaped protrusion is formed in said support plate. 
   
   
     20. The cleaning member of  claim 9 , further comprising a bend formed between said convex shaped protrusion and said edge having said elastic blade formed thereon. 
   
   
     21. The cleaning member of  claim 20 , further comprising a cut out portion positioned along said edge and configured to receive said elastic blade. 
   
   
     22. A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier, comprising:
 a support plate comprising:
 a planar face portion configured to be fixed to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier, 
 a plurality of reinforcement features configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, at least one of said reinforcement features arranged on said planar face portion, and 
 a blade connecting portion arranged on said planar face portion; and 
 
 an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object, wherein the cross section second moment of the support plate containing the reinforcement member is 50 mm 4  or more. 
 
   
   
     23. A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier, comprising:
 a support plate comprising:
 means for fixing the support plate to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier, and 
 a fold portion forming a plane that extends at an angle to a plane of said support plate, 
 means integral with and arranged on said plane of the support plate, for reinforcing a strength of said support plate; 
 
 an elastic blade member configured to clean said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object; and 
 means for connecting said elastic blade to said support plate. 
 
   
   
     24. A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier, comprising:
 a support plate comprising:
 means for fixing the support plate to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier, and 
 means arranged on a plane of the support plate, for reinforcing a strength of said support plate; 
 
 an elastic blade member configured to clean said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object; 
 means for connecting said elastic blade to said support plate; and 
 means for aligning said support plate on said object. 
 
   
   
     25. The cleaning member of  claim 23 , further comprising means for relieving a mechanical stress on said support plate when a convex shaped protrusion is formed in said support plate. 
   
   
     26. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image carrier; 
 an interior wall; and 
 a cleaning member mounted to said interior wall and configured to clean said image carrier, said cleaning member comprising: 
 a support plate comprising:
 a planar face portion configured to be fixed to said interior wall in a position adjacent to said image carrier, 
 a fold portion forming a plane that extends at an angle to said planar face portion, 
 reinforcement feature configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, said reinforcement feature being integral with and arranged on said planar face portion, and 
 a blade connecting portion coupled to said planar face portion; and 
 
 an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said interior wall. 
 
   
   
     27. An image processing cartridge, comprising:
 an image carrier; 
 an interior wall; and 
 a cleaning member mounted to said interior wall and configured to clean said image carrier, said cleaning member comprising: 
 a support plate comprising:
 a planar face portion configured to be fixed to said interior wall in a position adjacent to said image carrier, 
 a fold portion forming a plane that extends at an angle to said planar face portion, 
 reinforcement feature configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, said reinforcement feature being integral with and arranged on said planar face portion, and 
 a blade connecting portion coupled to said planar face portion; and 
 an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said interior wall. 
 
 
   
   
     28. The cleaning member of  claim 1 , wherein said blade connecting portion is arranged on said planar face portion. 
   
   
     29. The cleaning member of  claim 1 , wherein said blade connecting portion is arranged on a surface that extends at an angle from the planar face portion.